Conversations about ethics and design often fall victim to two problems. The first is the hand-waving problem. People talk about ethics in such a vague and aspirational ways that us practitioners have no path to changing the way we work. What use is design ethics if I can’t use it to affect my everyday decision-making? The second is the “save the world” problem. The only worthwhile problems are those that have obviously good outcomes, such as improving health or education, reducing poverty or gender inequality. But there just aren’t enough of these kind of jobs to go around. What use is ethics if I can’t access the work required to put it into practice? Designers are well familiar with using toolkits (patterns, heuristics, and so on). These are clear, actionable and flexible tools that help inform decision-making as we do our work. Why can’t it be the same for ethics? We need to create tools that help designers exercise moral judgement in their day-to-day work (especially for those who don’t particularly care about ethics). I believe that it’s possible to frame design ethics in a way that’s both actionable AND accessible, and that will allow all kinds of designers to bring ethical conversations and judgements into the work of everyday design.

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The
Ethics
of
Everyday
Things
Gabriel White
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User & business

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Useful, usable, appealing

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Make the world better

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We have the tools

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Our products are more pervasive

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Disrupting democracy

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Useful, usable, appealing?

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We’re missing what’s right

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15%70%
Lauri Lukka

14. @Jeff Veen via Future Ethics

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Technology is not neutral

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Bait and switch Confirshaming
Disguised adsForced con6nuity
Friend spam
Hidden costs
Price comparison preven6on
Roach motel
Sneak into basket
darkpa6erns.org

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Ethics as what

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Ethics as how

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An ethical lens for design

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Most problems are not
what problems

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We have ethics in our practice

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It’s hidden in pockets

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No big theories

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We are makers

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Heuristics can help

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Capacity for self-regulation &
control
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Better versions of ourselves
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Positive physical & emotional states
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Meaningful relationships
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Increase social fairness
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Support different viewpoints
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Honesty, humanity, trust
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Impact on the world
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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P2P lending

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Responsibility for commitments
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Better financial management
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Avoid financial stress
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Meaningful connections
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Equal opportunity for success
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Different money lending practices
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Fair & clear agreements
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Discourage wasteful projects
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Travel service

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Gain independence
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Step beyond the familiar
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Respond to difficult situations
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Connect with travel party & others
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Travellers with different capabilities
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Provide cultural context
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Lived reality of travel
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Offer low-impact options
Autonomy
Growth
Wellbeing
Connection
Equity
Values
Respect
Sustainability

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Not user or business needs

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Not anti-commercial

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Part of the conversation

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Nobody’s going to buy this

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So why heuristics?

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No commitment

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Adapt & change

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Use continuously

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Unifies themes

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Shareable

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smallsurfaces.com/ethics
#ethics on ixda.slack.com
@smallsurfaces

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Thanks!